The Revs. Aaron Twait and Katherine Lewis, outside St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
following Aaron's ordination to the Transitional Diaconate on Saturday, June 19.
What a joy to witness Aaron's ordination to the transitional diaconate this past Saturday. Aaron was one of a number of those from across the Episcopal Church in Minnesotat ordained by our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Craig Loya. As is our church's tradition, Aaron will serve as a transitional deacon before his eventual ordination to the priesthood (God willing, and the people consenting). Aaron spent the past program year with us at St. David's as an intern and has returned to his home church, Christ Church, Woodbury, while he continues his formation for the priesthood.
Congratulations, Aaron!
You may watch the Facebook live recording of the ordination here. |
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Outdoor Worship This Sunday
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Please join us for outdoor worship at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning!
How wonderful that we can join for Holy Eucharist! Bring weather appropriate clothing and a chair. Please see the Vestry Host if you need to get into the building to access the bathroom. Please check your email Sunday mornings before leaving for church as we may need to cancel at the last minute if the weather isn't safe.
As a reminder, beginning last week the Rector and Wardens decided to make wearing a mask to our outdoor services optional. Please see last week's email with more details on this decision!
If you can't be with us in person, you can join live on Facebook, or later on YouTube. We can be together in the Spirit, no matter where each of us is. Come, Holy Spirit, come!
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The Vestry met via Zoom on Monday, June 21st. Vestry members that were able met early, at 6:30pm, to discuss the first two chapters of Resmaa Menakem’s book, “My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies.” Menakem discusses three main bodies that apply specifically to America: black bodies, white bodies, and police bodies. He is very careful to point out that these labels are purely instructional and anyone could be more than one type or not feel they fit into any of the types. He is hopeful a Native American will write about their body experiences with trauma as well. The three types described in Menakem’s book all carry racial trauma in their bodies from the time of conception forward. Black bodies were and continue to be traumatized by white bodies, white bodies were traumatized by other white bodies in Europe, and police bodies often carry prejudices about black people that they act on without thinking. Menakem’s book is about healing and learning to go past our “lizard brain” reactions to racial tensions. He provides exercises to help you tap into your body’s awareness so you learn to tell when your body is feeling that fight or flight response and when it is relaxed, flexible, and open. Next month we will continue to read chapters 3 and 4 from Menakem’s book.
The entire Vestry met at 7pm. Katherine opened the meeting with Gospel based discipleship. Carol Johnson brought the Vestry up to speed on the needs and concerns of the Pastoral Care team. They need more volunteers! May Minutes and Financials were accepted and approved. Vestry members reported on steps they have taken to help the church live into its vision statements. A building reopening plan has been submitted to ECMN and has been approved. We plan to return to our building for worship on Kick-off Sunday, September 12. Until then we will continue to worship outside, masks optional and no check-in required. If someone alerts us of a Covid case after attendance at a church service we will email the entire congregation. Katherine continues her excellent work with various church members on creating and posting job descriptions for a Music Director, a Youth Minister, and eventually an Office Assistant. Katherine will be on a much deserved vacation July 4-18. Thank you all for your continued love, support, and faith in your St. David’s leadership. God bless.
Respectfully Submitted,
Huldah Niles, Sr. Warden
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Will you who witness these vows do all in your power
to support these persons in their life in Christ?
People We will.
--Book of Common Prayer, Baptismal Service
We'll be baptizing babies this summer!
Mark your calendars and plan to join us at these two special services:
Sunday, July 25, 9:30 am -- at Minnehaha Creek, near the gazebo
Sunday, August 15, 9:30 am -- on the west lawn of the church
Please bring your own chair or blanket, as you are able.
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Staffing at St. David’s—New Vision for a New Church
A Message From Your Rector
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I have been working intensely behind the scenes on a new staffing plan for St. David’s.
Our underlying goal is to equip our leadership in new and faithful ways to meet our vision of Loving God – Loving One Another in a world that has changed so much.
I am pleased to share two job postings with you and urge you, to share them within your networks to possible candidates:
I want to say thank you to a number of people who have been working with me on this collaborative effort:
Our Personnel Committee: Andy Harvala, Holly Lamond, and Karin Lindquist.
Our Minister of Music leadership team: David Niles and Cathy Schwichtenberg.
Our Music Vision Team: Ann Carda, Keith Gause, Laura Hensley, Di Marshall, Anne Mommsen, David Niles, Cathy Schwichtenberg, and Paul Smejkal.
Our Children’s and Youth Minister Search Committee: Allison Ferro, Laura Hensley, Kimberle Lopac, Kristina Stokes, and Jeff Strommen.
Maddie Harvala, our Interim Office Assistant (until we post and hire for that position later this summer – be on the lookout!)
Our Wardens: Huldah Niles and Randy Scwhichtenberg.
While it is the Rector who hires staff, this has been and continues to be a collaborative process. We welcome your help in finding outstanding candidates for these positions.
In Thanksgiving and in Hope,
Katherine
Loving God – Loving One Another
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St. David's Real Women Announcement |
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St David’s Real Women are on the go again. We’re vaccinated and ready. Come join us Aug 15 through Aug 19 at Itasca State Park Bear Paw guesthouse. A group from St David’s has been gathering every year since 1984. We started portaging canoes in the BWCA then transitioned to tent camping in MN state parks. Now father time has said we need something softer and off the ground! That translates into cabin camping. Electricity and running water are quite the luxury. The only thing that has not changed is the fellowship that unites us. And there is plenty of that to go around.
Launa Tucker 952-935-1294 Susan Taylor 952-944-7241
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Building our Website:
We Need Photographs and Your Stories!
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This is Karin Lindquist on your Communications Team and we’re redesigning the St. David’s website. We need high resolution photography that specifically invites viewers to join us and portrays who we are and where we’re going at St. David’s. If you’re willing to take photos, please contact me. This can be a fun, creative part of our communications ministry!
I have lots of ideas and look forward to working with you!
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Love Grace Wonder
Telling Our St. David’s Stories
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As part of the St. David’s faith community, we are all on a spiritual/relational journey. It is the power of sharing our personal stories that will reveal the heart and soul of our faith community. As a way of sharing who we are and what we feel is important to others, we are interested in personal quotes and stories to include in our St. David’s website and hope you are willing to share.
Our mission is to maintain a website that is informative for current members, reflects the personal experiences of our faith community and invites newcomers to join us.
Would you be willing to write a story that describes your experiences, hopes or reflections because of your life at St. David’s?
As you consider this invitation, the following questions are designed to assist in developing a story that is important to you and to others. Hopefully, one or more of these questions will spark a memory or experience that you’re willing to share:
• If someone should ask you why you worship at St. David’s, what would you tell that person?
• What is the most meaningful experience that you have had related to your relationship at St. David’s?
• What was it like when you first came to St. David’s?
• What brings you back?
• Tell us about a ministry you participated in, or one you have experienced or gained support because of the commitment of those involved?
• Share a passion you have – in serving and/or in worship?
• Write an invitation to someone you know on why they might want to join St. David’s. Give a personal reason why this is important.
• Tell us something you want others to know about St. David’s
• Share a time – when you felt the Holy Spirit was calling (or keeping) you connected or engaged.
• How has your experience at St. David’s affected your relationship with family, co- workers and friends?
Some people prefer to tell their story rather than write it. If this is you then, we have a team of folks from St. David’s who would enjoy the opportunity to work with you, listen, and write your story, subject to your approval.
We are a caring community of action, rooted in lasting relationships with many stories to tell and remember. You are St. David’s and your personal story will speak to those who are searching for a relationship with a faith community.
For questions, comments or more suggestions, contact:
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Us and Them: A Podcast Dedicated to Issues of Aging |
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Katherine and her father were interviewed as part of this podcast about West Virginia's growing elder population. While some of the issues presented here are specific to WV, many apply more generally.
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ECMN Youth: 6 Summer Camps |
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The Episcopal Church in Minnesota has a rich history of providing camping opportunities for young people. Camp is a transformational opportunity for kids and youth to step away from the everyday, and immerse themselves in something new and different. Its the immersion that’s truly transformational and unforgettable. Our six current programs are supported by strong lay and clergy, who are often past campers. We look forward to continued growth and development in years to come.
Each of these camping programs are dreamed, planned, run, and prayed for by a great team of lay and clergy volunteers. Join us this summer! Find out more by contacting your Missioner for Children, Youth and Camp, Sarah Barnett at sarah.b@episcopalmn.org.
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St. David's Wonder Women Happy Hour
July 1 at 5:30 PM
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This is informal and focused on connecting and conversation. Get your favorite HH beverage – water, tea, wine, cocktail; plug in, log on, we will be waiting for you! Please join us for whatever timing works for you – come later or stop in early to say hi for 15 minutes. We will be happy to get you for whatever works for your schedule.
July 1 @ 5:30 PM for one hour
Or Telephone：
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location)：
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 926 6373 1979
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Bible Study
June 29 will be our last bible study until fall. We will meet on the grass under the shade trees at St. David’s on Tuesday to enjoy one another’s company and bid farewell to a profitable year of study together. See you then.
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Compline Held Nightly at 8:00 PM – Join Us!
Compline, is a brief service of nighttime prayers, lasting no longer than about 10 minutes, this is a wonderful ritual for before bedtime. Please join us any night at 8:00 PM.
On Wednesdays Compline is led by children and intended for those of all ages (for some adults, it's their favorite service of the week!) using the the children's book Candlewalk by Karin Hosinger Sherman. The book is available through Church Publishing and Amazon.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 852 2267 7461
Passcode: Pn2CjY
Dial by Phone: +1 312 626 6799; Meeting ID: 852 2267 7461; Passcode: 516860
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Saturday Morning Prayer is taking a weekend off!
We will not be gathering this Saturday, June 26th .
Join us again the following Saturday, July 3rd when we plan to have a MUCH better audio setup so that those joining us on Zoom can hear us better and join in with the prayers.
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In this time of the coronavirus pandemic, the need to reach our most vulnerable parishioners has been great. Our 11 person Pastoral Care Team has stepped up to the plate and has been regularly calling around 24 St. David's members and families to share in remote fellowship, prayer, and conversation to determine if we, as a community, could help address any of their unmet needs. We are pleased to report that virtually all of these parishioners are doing well so far and have their basic needs met by their facilities and/or family. They are in good spirits and continue to remain resilient in the face of isolation and uncertainty.
If you find yourself in need of food or other resources, please contact:
or:
and we will assist you in finding solutions.
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Pastoral Care Line: 952-767-0891 |
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To add someone to the prayers, please contact the Rev. Katherine Lewis at klewis@stdavidsparish.org or office@stdavidsparish.org
We will be instituting a new practice regarding the Prayers of the People. We will include all individuals in the prayers list for four consecutive weeks, and then they will be removed from the list. If the prayer need is ongoing, please reach out and we will keep their names on the list. If anyone's prayer need is shorter than four weeks, please also note that. This way we will keep all prayer lists updated and recent.
As usual, please send prayer requests to office@stdavidsparish.org or klewis@stdavidsparish.org.
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Prayers and Passages
We pray for those who are sick or suffering, especially, Richard Austin (father of Holly Lamond), Ted Berktold (stepfather of Andy Harvala), Marie Brewer (cousin of Patti Jurkovich), William Cadwell (son of Philip Cadwell), Jack Cork (friend of Nina Strommen), Christina Dorr Drake (daughter-in-law of Nan and Guy Drake), Lina Maria Fajardo (niece of Pam Schroeder's sister), Dan Greer (nephew of LaMar Popp), Allison Hatcher, Ann Henjum (daughter of Bob Triebenbach), Margo Leslie (friend of Debbie Brown), Joan MacDonald, Joseph (JoJo) McLaughlin and family (Shea Brendalen's nephew), Amara Strande (daughter of the Rev. Dana Strande) and Mai Chou Thao (wife of the Rev. Wa Meng Lor), Peg Woellner, and Ken Wyatt (friend of Charity Harvala).
We pray for those who have died, especially Larry Minthorn (father of Huldah Niles).
We pray for the whole human family knit together in suffering and fear during the coronavirus pandemic; for the sick and the dying, for caregivers, medical researchers, teachers, students, the fearful, anxious and lonely. We pray for wisdom as health restrictions are loosening.
We pray for all who suffer or serve in war.
We pray for all who have been born, especially Ryder Drake Strathy (grandson of Nan and Guy Drake), born on May 25.
We pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life.
We pray for those serving in the military, Will Culliton, Aprille Lopac, and Kaelyn Wahlberg.
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Phases of Re-Gathering in ECMN
Guidelines and Planning Resource Document
ECMN has released the 3rd iteration of the ECMN Re-Gathering Planning Document on August 18th. The updates to this document center on the newly outlined plan for faith communities to move to gathering in person in faith community buildings in the months to come.
To be clear, there is no expectation that faith communities can/should/must return to their buildings.
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COVID-19 Resources Available
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